TOTP 80.39 27/11/80

First broadcast 27/11/80
Repeated on BBCFour from 19/11/2015
Presented by Tommy Vance
Full chart here.

Given the large amounts of heavy metal that are still hanging around they obviously thought it was time to get Vance on again. Sadly for him though (and lucky for us) there isn't very much of it at all on this week's Pops, although Tommy puts on a very brave face despite all this.

L to R: Soul boy, Vance, Anna-Marie

Starting with...quick preview (Spans, Palmer, Madness)

Showaddywaddy - Blue Moon
Vance spends an awful lot of time telling us how many hundred times this song has been done before, then we get The 'Waddy doing it exactly has it has been done a hundred times previously. Their manager/record company must have had a lot of friends in high places as a) their last song was rubbish and failed miserably b) this was only at no. 50 c) this was another rubbish version and failed miserably.

UB40 - Dream a Lie
As Vance so knowingly tells us, this was a double 'A' side with the doom-laden The Earth Dies Screaming, so here's a bit of light relief with the '40 posing as, er, Black and White Minstrels. I'm surprised this one actually got through in these politically and racially correct times, but some of the band were black and made to look white, so that makes it OK.

UB40: politically correct

Surprise visit from Darryl Hall and John Oates all the way from Philedelphia or somewhere, and they evidently have something to plug. Ah yes, Kiss On Your List which actually got nowhere near the Pops studio.

Robert Palmer - Looking For Clues

Looking like somewhere between Bryan Ferry and Gary Numan (with whom he had connections), Palmer is another one of those artists who skilfully and tastefully managed to re-invent themselves and their music to the eighties. That said, his previous single - the very eighties sounding Johnny & Mary - hadn't managed to get onto the Pops but this time he gets some good exposure as a bubbling under, and is all set to spend a record number of weeks at no..........33. And the "You had one job" award this week goes to the xylophone "player".

Yet another 'surprise' guest: Bev Bevan, who, as everyone in 1980 knew, was the drummer in ELO. Actually he's just written a book all about being the drummer in ELO. OK so now you're here Bev you can introduce the next number. By ELO.

ELO - Don't Walk Away (Legs & Co.)

And months after its original release they're still milking the Xanadu - The album cow for all it's worth with yet another single from said opus. More like flogging a dead horse though, as this one failed to get into the Top 20 and Olivia n Cliff were already on their way down just a place behind the 'Orchs with Suddenly. Fairly run of the mill Legs "dance" routine for one of Jeff Lynne's drearier ballads. In fact there's not much dancing at all, but predictably quite a lot of...walking away.

Rundown 30-21

Stray Cats - Runaway Boys

In retrospect, given his abysmal attempt to have a hit earlier in the year, Dave Edmunds probably did right to put his solo "career" on hold for a while to produce this lot. On the face of it, it's the same old repurposed rock 'n' roll stuff which had been rocking all over the world since our Dads were young, but this time with a slightly more credible 'modern' edge to them than, say, Matchbox or Showaddywaddy. Not quite Adam and the Ants or Spandau Ballet, but "eighties" defining nonetheless.

Stray Cats: 80s quiffs ahoy

20-11 rundown.

Spandau Ballet - To Cut a Long Story Short

"..in sound and vision.." says Vance - well yes Tommy that's what telly is supposed to be. Anyway the Spans are obviously already too busy touring or playing London clubs or something to come on again so here's a repeat of the performance form two weeks back. Now at no. 11.

More surprises, and more Americans...Martha and Marty of The Motels telling us what sort of Music The Motels Make. Now on a three week long short tour, making it the longest short tour ever. Just for the record, The Motels had two Top 50 (ie. not Top 40) singles in the UK.

Madness - Embarrassment

Well after that very embarrassing interview, here's some proper English hit music with Madness and their new one now at no. 12 up from 31. Great song, great band, great video and indeed a great year for them. They should be playing on top of Buckingham Palace or something.

Top 10 rundown .. .and it's a new number one!

Abba - Super Trouper

Abba Angels

But it's a full fifteen seconds before Vance can actually announce it cos of Agnetha and Annifried's angelic sung intro. Yup, the nation's favourite Swedes were at the top spot again (for the ninth time, thanks for that Tommy). Sad to think they never made it a tenth time and that it won't be long before they all get "sick and tired of everything" for real. But let's enjoy this for now. And it's their ninth numb.... oh shut up Vance!

A man maneuvering a super-trouper

Young & Company - I Like What You're Doing
Nondescript disco number to play us out as we bid adieu to Tommy and all his guests.


See you next week as we race towards December!

TOTP 80.38 20/11/80

First broadcast 20/11/80
Not repeated on BBCFour  in 2015
Presented by Dave Lee Travis
Full chart here.

This one not repeated for (by now) well known reasons, so thanks again to Popscene for the details.

Motorhead - Ace of Spades
Second performance of this one, now at no. 15, albeit a non-mover from last week. A fitting tribute to drummer Mr. Philthy Animal, RIP.

The Boomtown Rats - Banana Republic
The Rats are back, after their Top 5 Someone Looking at You at the beginning of the year, with soem new material and a 'modernist' sort of video. Sort of. New in at 23.

Diana Ross - I'm Coming Out (Legs & Co.)
Another single from Ms. Ross from her eponymous album, obviously not content with the success of Upside Down and Ol' Piano. No idea what Legs did with this one but I doubt it was anything about being gay. Up to no. 18.

Eddy Grant - Do You Feel My Love
One of those songs that sort of pops up out of nowhere and doesn't seem to be very 1980-ish at all. Anyway here's Eddy (né Edmond Montague) at no. 30.

Rod Stewart - Passion
If anything we should give Rod credit for passing seamlessly from the 70s to the 80s while keeping up the quality of his output, unlike many others (hello Elton and Gilbert). Sort of follows on from 1978's Do Ya Think I'm Sexy in terms of subject matter but hey, sex sells, right Rod?

Kool & the Gang - Celebration
Another one of those you don't necessarily associate with 1980 but here it is repeated, and now at no. 12.

Dennis Waterman & Dennis Waterman Band - I Could Be So Good For You
Now up to a staggering no. 4, selling more than even David Bowie, and Minder was probably top of the ratings.

Top 10 rundown:
(10) Status Quo – What You’re Proposing (down from 5)
(9) Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark – Enola Gay (down from 8, again)
(8) Adam & The Ants – Dog Eat Dog (down from 7)
(7) Bad Manners – Special Brew (down from 3)
(6) Stephanie Mills – Never Knew Love Like This Before (up from 9)
(5) David Bowie – Fashion (up from 6)
(4) Dennis Waterman with the Dennis Waterman Band – I Could Be So Good For You (non-mover, see above)
(3) Barbra Streisand – Woman In Love (dowm from 2)
(2) ABBA – Super Trouper (up from 13)

Blondie - The Tide is High

No. 1 per last week as the world awaits the new album.

UB40 - The Earth Dies Screaming (playout and dancing)

A less than cheery ending, but they were probably a bit pushed for chart risers. Brum's finest (post-ELO and pre-Duran) now at no. 11.

TOTP 80.37 13/11/80

First broadcast 13/11/80
Repeated on BBCFour from 05/11/2015
Presented by Simon Bates
Full chart here.

Preview then:

Iron Maiden  - Women in Uniform
"..they're playing live tonight.." and indeed at least from the vocal it seems as if they really are playing live. Or perhaps it is only the (lead) vocal. Since when did that happen? Anyway, like the man said: new entry at no. 35. Catch them in Uxbridge and Redcar.

David Bowie - Fashion (video)
"..a beautiful thing from the Top Ten.." Thing? Does he mean the video or Bowie or what? Anyway indeed  it is the "film" - at last - for The Dame's newest hit. Not as weird as the Ashes to Ashes one, but in true Bowie you've never seen anything quite like this before.

After calling a young girl in spectacles "four eyes" (look who's talking) Simes presents those two other smarmy creeps from Doctor Hook to hype their new album called 'Razzy' or something. It did rubbishly so Capitol had to rush out a Greatest Hits album to compensate.

Gladys Knight & the Pips - Bourgie Bourgie

Speaking of rubbish American MOR here's a final blast from the 70s for this lot. Another low entry (like iron Maiden) so we do seem to be scraping the barrel a bit this week, n'est-ce pas? This gotone place higher before disappearing into oblivion.

Simes has a handful of new albums ready for Christmas, including the Abba one in case he didn't mention it. But wait here's Bolton's finest comedian who could crush grapes like no other.

Chart rundown 30-20, then

John Lennon - (Just Like ) Starting Over (Legs & Co.)

Still can't comment on thsi one without getting a bit weepy, but suffice to say here's a pretty amazing dance routine from ver Legs, which starts off very minimalist-Japanese, presumably as a homage to Yoko Ono, and then suddenly each pair of Legs is in a differen get-up doing a bit of a jig each on a separate stage. One can't help feeling they were all 'improvising'. Just a little.

Chart rundown 19-11

Liquid Gold - The Night, The Wine and The Roses

Another one form the 30-40 bracket. Pretty rubbish UK-disco as usual although I can't help feeling they would've done better had they emerged circa 1985. Although perhaps they were just as influential on 80s music as, say, David Bowie? Discuss.

Spandau Ballet - To Cut a Long Story Short

"Have a listen to this!" The sound of a new, young Britain no less in the form of Spandau Ballet's TOTP debut. Hot on the heels of Adam & the Ants' debut a few weeks back, here is another new band with funny clothes, perhaps just a touch of make-up and a brand new sound for the nations' dancefloors. Way down at no. 43 but this would shock the record-buying public into getting them up to no. 19 next week, positively p*ssing over all the rest. Plus they have decent haircuts. "I've a feeling we're going to be hearing a lot from these bright young things in the years to come" (he said in a Simes voice).

Abba - Super Trouper

I'd love to know how many had tuned in to see this 'film' for the first time but actually preferred watching Spandau Ballet instead, but no matter as Abba were already at their peak and the record-buying public had been hotly anticipating this new one, and the ensuing album. It is indeed the highest 'jumper' up to no. 13 from nowhere. Feelin' like a (Christmas) no. 1? Possibly.

Top Ten countdown .. 

Blondie - The Tide is High

"A new number one and a great lady" - so what do you know Simes? And just what is it about putting the words "Number One" in your song lyrics these days? Is that in the hope of actually getting to number one? Well it might well be cos this is where Blondie are this week, and a million miles from, say, 'Rip Her to Shreds'. The video is a complete shambles and one wonders what they were 'on' when they made it. Better than Barbara Streisand though.

"Special" guests all reunited on the stage for the party in funny hats outro, the pervily titled:

Young & Company – I Like (What You’re Doing To Me)

See you next week! (sort of..)

TOTP 80.36 06/11/80

First broadcast 06/11/80
Not repeated on BBCFour in 2015
Presented by Jimmy Saville
Full chart here.

Well the TOTP Time Machine is racing ahead on BBCFour (save for omitted shows) so we'd better get cracking with a catch-up.. Thanks to PopScene episode guide for the list of artists in this show.


Kool and the Gang - Celebrate
Debut for what would become a bit of a classic of its genre, perhaps because it doesn't really belong to any particular genre. Disco/funk/pop crossover\good-times-are-here song which would get them Top 10. Ya-ho!

Status Quo - What You're Proposing
Keeping the party atmosphere going with this repeat performance. Now incredibly up to no. 2.

Dennis Waterman &  Band - I Could Be So Good For You
He was on a few weeks ago threatening that he was about to release a record, and here it is. A very British kind of record, but one which you wish had never been made. Again a bit of a 'cross-over' as it was the theme tune for Minder which had just been launched on ITV.

Stephanie Mills - I Never Knew Love Like This Before
Quite a fast pace this week with another jaunty number now at no. 18 and, like Kool  and Waterman, was destined to go even higher. Ms. Mills only Top 10/20 song which also won Best RnB song at the 1981 Grammys.

Neil Diamond - Love on the Rocks
Bit of an odd inclusion this as this new single wasn't even near the Top 75 yet. Probably some mooovie mogul paid a lot of money to the BBC to promote the mooovie The Jazz Singer from whence this song comes. I'd rather listen to Status Quo again to be honest.

Roxy Music - Same Old Scene (Legs & Co.)
Third single, and hit, from the Flesh+Blood album, and I won't hide it's my fave one too. I am also rather cross I didn't get to see Legs doing their thang to it, too. Hrrmph.

UB40 - The Earth Dies Screaming
Was this really on TOTP? An anti-nuclear protest song? Wonder what Jimmy Savile, and indeed the British public made of that. It'll reach no. 10 so hope it's on again....

Motorhead - Ace of Spades
This is turning out to be a cracker of a show: here's the 'Head with another raucous heavy-metal stonker which just stinks of pachuli oil and dirty leather. Love it. Again, hope we get a repeat.

Top 10 rundown as follows:
(10) Ottawan – D.I.S.C.O. (down)
(9) Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark – Enola Gay (down)
(8) David Bowie – Fashion  (up)
(7) Odyssey – If You’re Looking For A Way Out (down)
(6) Matchbox – When You Ask About Love (down)
(5) Blondie – The Tide Is High (NEW!)
(4) Adam & the Ants – Dog Eat Dog (up)
(3) Bad Manners – Special Brew (up)
(2)   Status Quo - What You’re Proposing (non mover)

Then,...

Barbara Streisand - Woman in Love (Number 1)
"Life is a moment in space.." etc. etc..



Got a bit of a lump in my throat when I read what the playout track was....Now only if I really did have a time machine...

John Lennon - (Just Like) Starting Over.......

TOTP 80.35 30/10/80

First broadcast 30/10/80
Repeated on BBCFour from 29/10/2015
Presented by Peter Powell
Guest presenter Colin Berry
Full chart here.

We open up the show with the party already in full swing, with loads of balloons and not a drop of Babycham in sight. Peter Powell in full-smug mode on, light blue T shirt and with him (in dark blue T shirt) is, er, Colin Berry. Who? Apparently some posh geezer from Radio 2 who has been 'getting up early'. How interesting. On with the show please...

Adam and the Ants - Dog Eat Dog
Second performance from Adam and his mates who are up to no. 13 and prepare for world domination. It's a pity they're on first as all the rest is made to look even more rubbish than it actually is.

Watch me Daddy-o!

Odyssey - If You're looking For a Way Out
Boring song, sung by boring people in boring video. Boring. (cit. Rick the Student). At no. 6, obviously.

Bad Manners - Special Brew
Slightly less boring although ska really was reaching its end surely? You know the score - lots of nuttiness and the big fat bloke in a grass skirt. Redeemed only by the ace line "I wanna spend all my money on you". One place above Odyssey and the last we'll see of them for a bit.

David Bowie - Fashion (Legs & Co.)
New in at 20 and Peter Powell shows us he really knows his stuff by telling us the full title of the latest Bowie album. We'll see the proper video for this in a couple of weeks time although while we're waiting for The Dame to make it, here's the luvvly Legs strutting their stuff, although sadly the cameras remain frustratingly distant from the stage/catwalk.

Beep beep!

Sheena Easton - One Man Woman
Our Sheen has been busy making a video for this one so she didn't have to bother about going to the TOTP studio too often. Not a great song but the whole look and feel of it is very Eighties. But that's the only redeeming (max) factor I'm afraid as the song is a bit rubbish. At no 17 but will peak next week at only 14.

I'm sure Phil Oakey is watching this.

Olivia Newton John & Cliff Richard - Suddenly
Oh dear. More dreariness from this perhaps unlikely couple. This is another one from Xanadu although Olivia did more interesting things on that album/film/concept with ELO. This dirge was written by John Farrar who'd also done better things for Olivia on Grease. They'd better hurry up and get physical, physical...

Showaddywaddy - Why Do Lovers Break Each Other's Hearts 
Or indeed why do a band like Showaddywaddy continue to have hits and appear on Top of the Pops? Not very Eighties at all, aside form the coloured streak in the singer's hair. At no. 22 but I don't think we'll ever see them on the Pops again. And why after seeing this do I get the impression they might have been a (closet) gay band? Never mind..

Oh it's Top 10 countdown already.

It's eight fifteen...

Barbara Streisand - Woman in Love
It's the third slow ballad (yawn) of the night but this is obviously way ahead of the rest. At number one for the second (of three) weeks in fact.


Don't forget to order your special T-shirts from the Radio Times and we'll see you next week as the TOTP-Tardis whooshes forward in time! Byeeeee!!